Rahystrada, who won his second Grade 3 Arlington
Handicap on Saturday, came out of that most recent
Grade 1 Arlington Million prep in good order and appeared likely to return for his third
consecutive Million when Chicago's centerpiece race celebrates its 30th
anniversary edition less than five weeks from now on August 18.

Two-time reigning Eclipse champion jockey Ramon Dominguez won the Belmont Park spring/summer riding title for the fourth straight year, bringing home 70 winners during the 56-day meet that concluded July 15.

The filly Dixie Strike, closing from well out on the track, edged past Colleen's Sailor just past the furlong pole to capture the $493,153 Prince of Wales Stakes July 15 in what could be the race's final renewal at Fort Erie.

A tonic for trainer Mike Mitchell, who is recovering from surgery to remove a
brain tumor, the Irish-bred was ridden for the first time by his future
son-in-law, Julien Leparoux. Sunday happened to be Leparoux's 29th birthday, and
Dhaamer turned the meet's final graded event into an extra-special family
celebration.

Trainer Mike Mitchell, who had surgery to remove a tumor from his brain late last month, was on hand as odds-on Dhaamer turned the closing-day Sunset Handicap (gr. IIIT) into a romp at Betfair Hollywood Park July 15.

Though Queen's Plate runner-up Irish Mission was sent off the 8-5 favorite in
Sunday's $493,153
Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie, it was the other filly in the field,
John C. Oxley's Dixie Strike, who got the win over the game duo of Ultimate
Destiny and Colleen's Sailor.

Zayat Stables' Grade 1 Arkansas Derby star is the latest big defection from
Monmouth's $1 million showpiece, which lost Belmont Stakes hero Union Rags due
to injury earlier this week. While Union Rags will be out for the rest the
season with his tendon issue, at least Bodemeister's setback is simply an
ill-timed illness.

Much of the country is experiencing drier than normal conditions this summer and, thus, some horses living on pasture might soon have limited forage choices. Owners must take care to ensure pastures do not contain certain plant and weed species capable of producing toxins during stress conditions such as drought.